Printer

ABSTRACT

A printer is disclosed, which comprises a frame, an image forming module, a controller, a light guide unit, and an optical detector. The image forming module is disposed opposite to the frame and forms a passage. The light guide unit is disposed in the frame and is connected to the controller. The optical detector comprises an illuminating part and a receiving part. The illuminating part illuminates a beam to the light guide d unit, and the receiving part is for receiving the light.

The current application claims a foreign priority to application number104101394 filed on Jan. 16, 2015 in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a printer, and more particularly, thepresent invention relates to a printer with functions of detecting aninstalling status of an image forming module and a feeding status.

2. Description of Related Art

In general, a mechanical detector is usually applied to detect whether apaper pass through a passage of a printer by a trigger of paper. But,the above design results that the detector can't detect whether theimage forming module is installed in the upper of the housing properlyin the period of detecting the pass of paper. An imaging consumableinstalled in the image forming module need to remove and replace new oneafter a period of time. Take the mechanical detector for example, if theimage forming module is detected firstly by the mechanical detector(mechanical detector is pressed by the image forming module), themechanical detector is no longer be triggered by papers. This is, themechanical detector can't detect the pass of paper. However, the imageforming module need to be detected for confirming whether theinstallation of the image forming module is completed so as to executethe follow-up feeding process and image forming process. Thus, theprinter applied the mechanical detector for detecting papers needs to anadditional mechanism to detect the image forming module. For example, achip and a circuit board are installed in the image forming module andthe frame under the image forming module respectively for sensingwhether the image forming module is adjacent. As a result, at least twosets of the chip and the circuit board are needed, and the productioncosts be increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a printerhaving a detector with functions of detecting an installing status ofthe image forming module and grasping a feeding status accurately, andthe detector have the advantages of simple structure and low cost.

To achieve the foregoing and other objects, a printer is provided. Theprinter comprises a frame, an image forming module, a controller, alight guide unit, and an optical detector. The image forming module isdisposed opposite to the frame, and a passage is formed between theimage forming module and the frame. The light guide unit is disposed inthe image forming module. The optical detector is disposed in the frameand opposite to the light guide unit, the optical detector is coupled tothe controller, the optical detector comprises an illuminating part foremitting a light to the light guide unit and a receiving part forreceiving the light.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a printer according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a three dimensional schematic view illustrating the opticaldetector and the light guide unit depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the optical detector disposed onthe frame depicted in FIG. 1, wherein the image forming module isuninstalled.

FIG. 4A is a schematic view illustrating the optical detector disposedon the frame depicted in FIG. 1, wherein the image forming module isinstalled.

FIG. 4B is a schematic view illustrating another light guide unit.

FIG. 5A is a schematic view illustrating a paper passing through thepassage and the optical detector.

FIG. 5B is a schematic view illustrating of another light guide unit.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating relationship between luminousflux and time of the optical detector.

FIG. 7A is a schematic view illustrating relationship between luminousflux and time in one status of paper jam.

FIG. 7B is a schematic view illustrating relationship between luminousflux and time in another status of paper jam.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a printer according to oneembodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a printer 100includes a frame 10, an image forming module 20 disposed opposite to theframe, a controller 30, a light guide unit 40, and an optical detector50. A passage P is formed between the image forming module 20 and theframe 10. The image forming module 20 is detachable to install in theprinter. The printing consumable (not shown) is installed inside of theimage forming module, such as a toner cartridge, and an ink supply, etc.When the printing consumable is exhausted, the image forming module 20can be detached to replace. Except the printing consumable, the imageforming module 20 further includes a regulating roller 22, a developingroller 24, and a photosensitive drum 26. Take the toner cartridge as theprinting consumable for example, the toners are coated on the developingroller 24 by the regulating roller 22 uniformly, the toners on thedeveloping roller 24 are further adsorbed to the charged region of thephotosensitive drum 26 for forming an image. The frame 10 includes atransfer roller 12 disposed opposite to the photosensitive drum 26, andthe toners are transferred on a paper S by the transfer roller 12 andthe photosensitive drum 26 jointly. The light guide unit 40 is disposedin one side of the image forming module 20 which is close to the passageP. The light guide unit 40 can be a light guide post or a reflectivesheet.

FIG. 2 is a three dimensional schematic view illustrating the opticaldetector and the light guide unit depicted in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG.2, the optical detector 50 including an illuminating part 52, areceiving part 54, and a circuit board 56 connected to the receivingpart 54 is used for transforming the light L received by the receivingpart 54 to the electronic signal. The optical detector 50 is disposedopposite to the light guide unit 40. The illuminating part 52 is usedfor emitting light L to the light guide unit 40. FIG. 3 is a schematicview illustrating the optical detector disposed on the frame depicted inFIG. 1, wherein the image forming module is uninstalled. Referring toFIG. 3, the optical detector 50 is disposed in the frame 10 and iscoupled to the controller 30. However, due to the image forming module20 is uninstalled, so that the light L emitted from the illuminatingpart 52 can't transmit to the receiving part 54. Then, the controller 30determines the image forming module 20 is uninstalled when the light Lis not received by the receiving part 54. Based on the infrared lightwith low light penetration, the optical detector 50 is an infraredoptical detector preferably, including but not limited in the presentinvention.

FIG. 4A is a schematic view illustrating the optical detector disposedon the frame depicted in FIG. 1, wherein the image forming module isinstalled. Referring to FIG. 4A, when the image forming module 20installed, the optical detector 50 is disposed opposite to the lightguide unit 40. The passage P is formed between the frame 10 and theimage forming module 20, the passage P is used for paper S to pass. Thelight L emitted from the illuminating part 52 transmits through thelight guide unit 40, and the light L be guided to the receiving part 54by light guide unit 40. The receiving part 54 is used to receive thelight L, and the light L received by the receiving part 54 istransformed to a electronic signal by the circuit board 56, and then theelectronic signal be sent to the controller 30. In the status, thecontroller 30 determines the image forming module 20 is install when thelight L is received by the receiving part 54. In FIG. 4A, the lightguide unit 40 is a light guide post, and the light guide unit 40 can bea reflective sheet in another embodiment.

FIG. 4B is a schematic view illustrating another light guide unit.Referring to FIG. 4B, the light guide unit 40 is the reflective sheet,the light L is emitted in an angle by the illuminating part 52, and thelight L is reflected to the receiving part 54 by the reflective sheet40. Similarly, the controller 30 determines the image forming module 20is install when the light L is received by the receiving part 54.

After confirming of the installation of the image forming module 20, thecontroller 30 further sends a feeding signal to request a feeder 60 tofeed a paper S into the passage. Referring to FIG. 1, the paper S isfeed into the passage P by the feeder 60, and pass through the opticaldetector 50 and the light guide unit 40. FIG. 5A is a schematic viewillustrating a paper passing through the passage and the opticaldetector. Referring to FIG. 5A, the paper S can pass through the passageP, and the illuminating part 52 still emits the light L in the same timecontinuously (or intermittently in short cycle) . When the paper S isjust passed through the optical detector 50, the light L is blocked bythe paper S temporarily, so that the receiving part 54 can't receive thesignal. The controller 30 determines the paper S passes through thepassage P according to the temporary block of the light L caused by thepaper S. FIG. 5B is a schematic view illustrating of another light guideunit. Referring to FIG. 5B, similarly, the receiving part 54 can'treceive the signal because the paper S passes temporarily.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating relationship between luminousflux and time of the optical detector. Referring to FIG. 6, when thecontroller 30 confirms that light L is received by the receiving part54, the controller 30 sends a feeding signal to request a feeder 60 tofeed a paper S into the passage P. In a transferring process of thepaper S in the passage P, the illuminating part 52 emits light Lcontinuously, and the receiving part 54 keep to receive the light Luntil the front edge of the paper S reaching the optical detector 50.The time interval t represents the light L is not received by thereceiving part 54 in a predetermined time when the paper S passesthrough the optical detector 50 temporarily. When the end edge of thepaper S goes away the optical detector 50 and the front edge of nextpaper doesn't reach to the optical detector 50, the light L is receivedcontinuously by the receiving part 54 again. For example, as shown inFIG. 6, three sheets are transferred by the feeder 60. The controller 30can further estimate the required time that the paper S reaches to theoptical detector 50 and the time interval t after sending the feedingsignal according to the transmission speed of the feeder 60 and thedisposition of the optical detector 50. Thus, the feeding status can becontrolled accurately.

FIG. 7A is a schematic view illustrating relationship between luminousflux and time in one status of paper jam. Referring to FIG. 7A, thecontroller 30 sends a feeding signal to request a feeder 60 to feed apaper S into the passage P after confirming the light L is received bythe receiving part 54. When the front edge of the paper S reaches theoptical detector 50 and the duration of the receiving part 54 withoutreceiving the light L is over a predetermined time, this represents thatthe paper S doesn't go away from the optical detector 50. The controller30 determines an occurrence of paper jam in the passage P, wherein thelocation of paper jam is near to the disposition of the optical detector50. The predetermined time can be determined by the controller 30 inadvance, and the warning of paper jam will be sent for users when theduration of the receiving part 54 without receiving the light L is overthe predetermined time. For example, the warning of paper jam will berepresented in a warning light or be displayed in an interface.

FIG. 7B is a schematic view illustrating relationship between luminousflux and time in another status of paper jam. Referring to FIG. 7B, thecontroller 30 sends a feeding signal to request a feeder 60 to feed apaper S into the passage P after confirming the light L is received bythe receiving part 54. The light L is still received by the receivingpart 54 continuously when a predetermined time is over, this representsthat the front edge of the paper S still doesn't reach the opticaldetector 50. The controller 30 determines the feeding failure of thefeeder 60 (a tray out of paper), or a paper jam occurred in the passageP, wherein the location of paper jam is occurred in front of the opticaldetector 50. Similar to previous paragraph, the predetermined time canbe determined by the controller 30 in advance, and the user will bewarned when the duration of the receiving part 54 with receiving thelight L is over the predetermined time. Referring to FIG. 1 again, asecond optical detector 50′ and a second light guide unit 40′ can be setin front of the feeder 60 for further distinguishing the status offeeding failure or paper jam occurred in the passage P, wherein thestructures of the second optical detector 50′ and the second light guideunit 40′ are similar to the structures of the optical detector 50 andlight guide unit 40 respectively. The second optical detector 50′ isalso coupled to the controller 30, the difference between the opticaldetector 50 and the second optical detector 50′ just be in the disposinglocation. The second optical detector 50 coordinated with the secondlight guide unit 40 can detect whether the paper S passes through thefeeder 60, and the controller 30 determines the feeding failure or apaper jam occurred in the passage P according to the previous detectingresult.

From above, the printer of the present invention can solve the issuethat the mechanical detector can't detect the installing status of theimage forming module. The printer of the present invention not only candetect the installing status of the image forming module, but also cancontrol the feeding status after confirming the installation of theimage forming module, even can determine the occurring location of paperjam. In addition, the printer of the present invention be with simplestructure, and just need to install a set of the chip and the circuitboard. Thus, the printer of the present invention also be with low cost.

While the disclosure has been described by way of example and in termsof the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosureis not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it isintended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (aswould be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope ofthe appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so asto encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A printer, comprising: a frame; an image formingmodule disposed opposite to the frame, and a passage formed between theimage forming module and the frame; a controller; a light guide unitdisposed in the image forming module; and an optical detector disposedin the frame, opposite to the light guide unit, and coupled to thecontroller; wherein, the optical detector comprises an illuminating partfor emitting a light to the light guide unit and a receiving part forreceiving the light.
 2. The printer of claim 1, wherein the opticaldetector is an infrared light detector.
 3. The printer of claim 1,wherein the light is transmitted to the receiving part through the lightguide unit.
 4. The printer of claim 1, wherein the light is reflected tothe receiving part by the light guide unit.
 5. The printer of claim 1,wherein the optical detector further comprises a circuit board connectedto the receiving part for transform the light received by the receivingpart to a electronic signal.
 6. The printer of claim 1, wherein thecontroller determines the image forming module is uninstalled when thelight is not received by the receiving part.
 7. The printer of claim 1,wherein the controller determines the image forming module is installedwhen the light is received by the receiving part.
 8. The printer ofclaim 7, wherein the controller further sends a feeding signal torequest a feeder to feed a paper into the passage, and the controllerdetermines the paper passes through the passage according to thetemporary block of the light.
 9. The printer of claim 7, wherein thecontroller further sends a feeding signal to request a feeder to feed apaper into the passage, and the controller determines an occurrence ofpaper jam in the passage according to the block of the light over apredetermined time.
 10. The printer of claim 7, wherein the controllerfurther sends a feeding signal to request a feeder to feed a paper intothe passage, and the controller determines the feeding failure of thefeeder according to the unblock of the light in a predetermined time.11. A printer, is suitable for feeding a paper, comprising: a frame; animage forming module disposed opposite to the frame, and a passage isformed between the image forming module and the frame; a controller; anda detecting module, coupled to the controller and disposed beside thepassage for detecting the installation of the image forming module andthe feeding status of the paper by a light transmitting between twosides of the passage.
 12. The printer of claim 11, wherein the detectingmodule comprises a light guide unit disposed in the image forming moduleand an optical detector disposed in the frame, the optical detector isdisposed opposite to the light guide unit.
 13. The printer of claim 12,wherein the optical detector comprises an illuminating part for emittinga light to the light guide unit and a receiving part for receiving thelight.
 14. The printer of claim 13, wherein the light is transmitted tothe receiving part through the light guide unit.
 15. The printer ofclaim 13, wherein the light is reflected to the receiving part by thelight guide unit.
 16. The printer of claim 13, wherein the opticaldetector further comprises a circuit board connected to the receivingpart for transform the light received by the receiving part to aelectronic signal.
 17. The printer of claim 13, wherein the controllerdetermines the image forming module is uninstalled when the light is notreceived by the receiving part, and the controller determines the imageforming module is installed when the light is received by the receivingpart.
 18. The printer of claim 17, wherein the controller further sendsa feeding signal to request a feeder to feed a paper into the passage,and the controller determines the paper passes through the passageaccording to the temporary block of the light.
 19. The printer of claim17, wherein the controller further sends a feeding signal to request afeeder to feed a paper into the passage, and the controller determinesan occurrence of paper jam in the passage according to the block of thelight over a predetermined time.
 20. The printer of claim 17, whereinthe controller further sends a feeding signal to request a feeder tofeed a paper into the passage, and the controller determines the feedingfailure of the feeder according to the unblock of the light in apredetermined time.